Information handling system virtual and physical keyboard position coordination

ABSTRACT

A portable information handling system includes a physical keyboard that extends and retracts from within the system to outside of the system and a display that presents a virtual keyboard that moves synchronously with physical keyboard during retraction and extension. For example, as keys of the physical keyboard become visible or hidden by movement of the physical keyboard, the virtual keyboard slides across the display so that virtual keys are hidden or visible with the virtual keyboard in one example embodiment only showing virtual keys corresponding to hidden physical keys. In another example embodiment, the virtual keyboard accepts key inputs for hidden physical keys, which are disabled from accepting inputs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of portableinformation handling systems, and more particularly to an informationhandling system virtual and physical keyboard position coordination.

Description of the Related Art

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option available to users is information handling systems. Aninformation handling system generally processes, compiles, stores,and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or otherpurposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of theinformation. Because technology and information handling needs andrequirements vary between different users or applications, informationhandling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in informationhandling systems allow for information handling systems to be general orconfigured for a specific user or specific use such as financialtransaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage,or global communications. In addition, information handling systems mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

Portable information handling systems integrate processing components, adisplay and a power source in a portable housing to support mobileoperations. Portable information handling systems allow end users tocarry a system between meetings, during travel, and between home andoffice locations so that an end user has access to processingcapabilities while mobile. Convertible portable information handlingsystem configurations typically include multiple separate housingportions that rotationally couple to each other so that the systemconverts between closed and open positions. For example, a main housingportion integrates processing components and a keyboard and rotationallycouples with hinges to a lid housing portion that integrates a display.In a clamshell position, the lid housing portion rotates approximatelyninety degrees to a raised position above the main housing portion sothat an end user can type inputs while viewing the display. After usage,convertible information handling systems rotate the lid housing portionover the main housing portion to protect the keyboard and display, thusreducing the system footprint for improved storage and mobility.

Although an integrated keyboard provides a convenient input device for amobile end user, in some types of portable systems end user interactionsare often supported through peripheral devices, such as wireless inputdevices and peripheral displays. For instance, many end users who playgaming applications desire powerful systems with good graphics but in aportable housing so that the end user can play games while mobile. Manygamers also desire portable systems that are upgradeable so that theuser can configure the system with specialized components. With portablesystems, flexibility in configurations can present a problem since thesystems are designed to fit in a portable housing having a smallerinternal size. Often end users have to unscrew and disassemble housingportions at the bottom of the system to access components for servicing.Further, portable systems tend to be sensitive to thermal constraintssince the internal housing tends to have more restricted airflow. Thus,end users who specially configure their systems may have undesirableside effects related to the interaction of the internal components. Thiscan create problems for the end user who is distracted by monitoring ofoperating conditions while trying to interact with a gaming application.

Another problem that can arise with portable information handlingsystems is the integration of effective speakers in a housing. A reducefootprint in a portable system can reduce the effectiveness of speakersboth in size and in location. To achieve a stereo sound effect, speakersassociated with different channels of audio should have physical spacingbetween each other. One type of speaker that has a reduced size witheffective output is a piezoelectric speaker. However, these speakersneed a sealed chamber and proximity to an outer surface to efficientlygenerate sound. Even with the improved capability of these speakers, thesmall form factor of the portable housing limits spacing between theintegrated speakers so that stereo effects can have reduced impact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a need has arisen for a system and method which providesimproved ease of access to components in a portable information handlingsystem housing.

A further need exists for a system and method which outputs audio from aspeaker through a main housing portion transparent cover.

A further need exists for a system and method which analyzes audioinformation generated by an application to determine positionalinformation related to the application.

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method areprovided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problemsassociated with previous methods and systems that cover a portableinformation handling system housing portion in a manner that supportsend user access to the housing interior with audio output through thecover and presentation of visual cues that supplement audiopresentation. A portable information handling system main housingportion has a transparent cover that rotates between open and closedpositions to expose components in the housing. The transparent cover issealed with an inflatable seal and integrates wirelines and contact padsthat carry audible signals to a speaker disposed in a cavity under thetransparent cover. The transparent cover integrates a display, such as aliquid crystal display layer, that provides a secondary display functionfor presenting supplemental information, such as positional informationderived from analysis of audio output and a virtual keyboard that movessynchronously with an extendable physical keyboard.

More specifically, a portable information handling system has a portablehousing that contains processing components and rotates between open andclosed positions. A transparent cover fits over a portion of the housingto protect the components, which are visible through the protectivecover. In one example embodiment, the protective cover integrates adisplay, such as a liquid crystal display layer or an organic lightemitting diode film layer, to present supplemental information as visualimages. The transparent cover is, for instance, a glass cover biased toan open position by hydraulic arms and held in a closed position withcapacitance locks that selectively release in response to a proximateend user touch. An inflatable seal around a portion of the perimeter ofthe housing portion seals against air entering into the housing fromundesired directions when the transparent cover is in the closedposition. A piezoelectric speaker is disposed in a speaker cavity underthe transparent cover and interfaced with processing components toreceive audio signals through wirelines and contact pads integrated inthe transparent cover. The speaker cavity is sealed with the transparentcover in a closed position to provide a speaker chamber that efficientlygenerates audio sounds by the piezoelectric speaker. Audio soundsgenerated by an application executing on the information handlingsystem, such as a gaming application, is monitored to identify definedsound patterns, such as shots fired, and analyzes the audio informationassociated with the sounds to determine positional information forpresentation to an end user as visual cues, such as a location of aplayer in a gaming application who fired the shots. The display layerintegrated in the transparent cover provides a supplemental viewingsurface to present the visual cues and other information, such as avirtual keyboard that slides synchronously with a physical keyboard thatextends and retracts from the system.

The present invention provides a number of important technicaladvantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that aportable information handling system housing is accessible from an upperside by lifting a transparent cover from the housing so that servicingand enhancement of internal components is simpler and readily performed.The transparent cover is sealed with an inflatable seal to provideresistance to undesired airflow at the housing perimeter, such as byhaving air intake at a rear side of the housing. A display integrated inthe transparent cover provides presentation of supplemental information,such as operating conditions of components within the housing, aposition of a keyboard that extends from the housing and applicationspecific information. Processing of audio information played by anapplication to generate audio vector information related to the audiosource is presented as visual cues that supplement the application. In agaming environment, key player positional information may be derivedthat is otherwise not available to give an end user an edge in the game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerousobjects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in theart by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the samereference number throughout the several figures designates a like orsimilar element.

FIG. 1 depicts a front perspective view of a portable informationhandling system having a main display and a secondary display;

FIG. 2 depicts a front perspective view of a portable informationhandling system having a secondary display raised above a main housingportion to provide access to underlying processing components;

FIG. 3 depicts a front perspective view of an inflatable sealarrangement that seals the secondary display when closed over the mainhousing portion;

FIG. 4 depicts a side perspective view of the inflatable seal separatefrom the main housing portion and aligned to seal against a bottomsurface of the secondary display;

FIG. 5 depicts a cross sectional view of the inflatable seal pressingagainst the bottom surface of the secondary display;

FIG. 6 depicts a side perspective view of a speaker disposed in aspeaker cavity of the main housing portion;

FIG. 7 depicts some examples of display visual images for presentationat a support display 20;

FIG. 8 depicts a block diagram of a system that leverages audioprocessing to supplement visual information presented to an end user,such as through a secondary display;

FIG. 9 depicts an example embodiment of audio-generated visual cuespresented in coordination with application visual information;

FIG. 10 depicts an alternative embodiment of audio generated visual cuespresented on an application map;

FIG. 11 depicts an example of audio vector resolution that determines anaudio vector based in part on obstructions, occlusions and exclusions ina gaming application;

FIG. 12 depicts an example of an audio vector resolution that determinesan audio vector based in part on volume estimated distances;

FIG. 13 depicts a flow diagram of a process for determining audio vectorresolution to provide visual indications of audio source;

FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C depict a dynamic on-screen keyboard positionpresentation based upon a physical keyboard location during extensionand retraction; and

FIG. 15 depicts a flow diagram of a process for dynamic on-screenkeyboard presentation based upon a physical keyboard location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A portable information handling system integrates a removable secondarydisplay that provides improved access to internal components andsupplemental visual presentation for operating conditions andapplications. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handlingsystem may include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalitiesoperable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve,originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce,handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data forbusiness, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, aninformation handling system may be a personal computer, a networkstorage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size,shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handlingsystem may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processingresources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware orsoftware control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory.Additional components of the information handling system may include oneor more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating withexternal devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, suchas a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handlingsystem may also include one or more buses operable to transmitcommunications between the various hardware components.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a front perspective view depicts a portableinformation handling system 10 having a main display 18 and a secondarydisplay 20. In the example embodiment, information handling system 10 isbuilt in a portable housing 12 having a lid housing portion 14rotationally-coupled to a main housing portion 16 by a motorized hinge22 that automatically rotates housing 12 between a closed position andthe open clamshell position in the depicted example embodiment. In theopen clamshell position, main display 18 presents information generatedby executing an application as visual images, such as with an organiclight emitting diode (OLED) display film or a liquid crystal display(LCD) panel. For example, a gaming application executes on an operatingsystem to generate gaming output for presentation at main display 18.Secondary display 20 has a transparent composition, such as glass, thatintegrates a display while allowing an end user to see into main housingportion 16. For example, secondary display 20 integrates an OLED film orLCD that does not have a solid background so that the end user can seethrough secondary display 20, which effectively acts as a transparentcover over main housing portion 16. The use of a transparent cover thatintegrates a display capability offers various functions includingsupplementation of visual images presented at main display 18,presentation of operating conditions or other system managementinterfaces, and improved access by an end user to the interior of mainhousing portion 16, as described below.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a front perspective view depicts a portableinformation handling system 10 having secondary display 20 raised abovemain housing portion 16 to provide access to underlying processingcomponents. Secondary display 20 rotationally couples at a rear side ofmain housing portion 16, such as with a motorized hinge 22, to rotatebetween the closed position of FIG. 1 and the open position depicted byFIG. 2 in which secondary display 20 is raised above main housingportion 16 by hydraulic arms 36. When secondary display 20 is lifted,processing components disposed in main housing portion 16 are exposed sothat an end user can access them, such as to make modifications to theprocessing components. In the example embodiment, a motherboard 24supports and interfaces the processing components. A central processingunit (CPU) 26 couples to motherboard 24 to process information byexecuting instructions of an operating system and applications that arestored in a random access memory (RAM) 28. A graphics processor unit(GPU) 30 interfaces with CPU 26 to further process information anddefine visual images with pixel values for presentation at main display18. A speaker 32 interfaces with CPU 26 to output audio information asaudible sounds. In the example embodiment, speaker 32 is a piezoelectricspeaker that fits in a speaker cavity 34 defined in main housing portion16. Cooling fans 42 couple inside of main housing portion 16 to generatea cooling airflow that rejects excess thermal energy.

Secondary display 20 provides a transparent and removable cover overmain housing portion 16 that integrates a display layer to presentvisual images to an end user generated by GPU 30 or a managementcontroller, such as an embedded controller 44 that manages systemoperating conditions like power and thermals. To simplify access to theinterior of main housing portion 16, a capacitance lock 38 selectivelyengages a lock receiver 40 to hold secondary display 20 coupled to mainhousing portion 16. Capacitance lock 38 releases in response to aproximate touch so that an upward bias of hydraulic arm 36 liftssecondary display 20 to the raised position. When pressed downward,secondary display 20 engages capacitance lock 38 into lock receiver 40to cover the interior of main housing portion 16 until a touch commandsrelease of the lock. Advantageously, access through the top of mainhousing portion 16 reduces the complexity of performing upgrades andrepairs to components in housing 12 and improves system integrity byhaving a solid base of main housing portion 16 without including anaccess through the bottom surface to the housing interior.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a front perspective view depicts an inflatableseal arrangement that seals secondary display 20 when closed over mainhousing portion 16. In the example embodiment, inflatable seal 46proceeds around a portion of the perimeter of main housing portion 16 toprevent air from flowing into the housing interior except where desired,such as through bottom or rear vents of housing 12. In the exampleembodiment, inflatable seal 46 is offset from the front face of mainhousing portion 16 to leave a border in which speaker cavities 34 areformed at opposing sides to accept piezoelectric speakers 32. Capacitivelocks 38 couple into lock receivers 40 proximate to where inflatableseal 46 bends to cross the front of main housing portion 16 near thecoupling location of hydraulic arm 36 so that a strong seal may bemaintained. Speakers 32 are shown coupled to a bottom side of secondarydisplay 20 to fit into cavities 34 with power provided through wirelinesintegrated in secondary display 20 as set forth below. When secondarydisplay 20 captures speakers 32 within cavities 34 of main housingportion 16, the piezoelectric transducer of the speakers generatessounds within the speaker chamber defined by the cavity and secondarydisplay. When the display layer included in the transparent cover ofsecondary display 20 has an OLED material, presentation of visual imagesmay be generated by illumination of OLED pixels. When the display layeris an LCD, a backlight may be included within speaker cavity 34 that theLCD filters to generate visual images. Similarly backlights may bedistributed in main housing portion 16 as needed to present operatingconditions or other visual images as described below. In an embodimentwhere secondary display is just a transparent cover, such as glass,without an integrated display, different color LEDs may be disposed inmain housing portion 16 to provide lighting effects as desired.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a side perspective view depicts inflatable seal46 separate from the main housing portion and aligned to seal against abottom surface of secondary display 20. In the example embodiment,inflatable seal 46 interfaces with a pump motor 48 and pump valve 50that cooperate to inflate and deflate the seal, such as based uponcommands provided from an embedded controller or other processor. Astriking surface 56 integrated in the bottom surface of secondarydisplay 20 aligns with inflatable seal 46 so that hydraulic arm 36lowers secondary display 20 against a defined sealing surface. In oneexample embodiment, inflatable seal 46 is deflated before release of thecapacitance lock to raise secondary display 20 and inflated only aftersecondary display fully closes. This inflation and deflation managementhelps to reduce stresses of inflatable seal 46 from over expansion whennot compressed by the closed secondary display.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a cross sectional view depicts inflatable seal46 pressing against the bottom surface of the secondary display 20. Inthe example embodiment, outline 52 depicts the inflated positon ofinflatable seal 46 and outline 54 depicts the deflated position. Mainhousing portion 16 defines a cavity in which inflatable seal 46 restsand having an upper side that protects the deflated outline 54 whenexposed due to lifting of secondary display 20. The striking surface 56provides a hard flat surface that inflatable seal 46 meets against wheninflated so that an airtight seal is provided. Inflation of inflatableseal 46 presses upward against secondary display 20 to bias the closedposition against movement while offering some buffer against unintendedshocks or accelerations.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a side perspective view depicts a speaker 32disposed in a speaker cavity 34 of main housing portion 16. Secondarydisplay 20 integrates wirelines and power pads 58 that communicatespeaker signals and power from the processing components within mainhousing portion 16, such as an audio chipset, to speaker 32 contacts 62.For example, sound signals generated by a gaming application running onthe system processor are communicated through secondary display 20 withintegrated wirelines and from power pads 58 to spring contacts 62integrated in speaker 32 and biased upwards and against the secondarydisplay 20 with integrated springs. A dampener gasket 60 couples intospeaker cavity 34 to seal the speaker chamber formed when secondarydisplay 20 rotates down and over speaker 32. A backlight 64 is disposedin speaker cavity 34 to provide illumination as either a backlight foran integrated LCD or for other lighting effects.

Referring now to FIG. 7, some examples of display visual images forpresentation at support display 20 are depicted. In the exampleembodiment, support display 20 has a transparent composition thatprovides an end user with a view through a transparent cover and intothe interior of the system housing to see internal processingcomponents, such as CPU 26, GPU 30 and cooling fans 42. The transparentcover integrates a display that presents visual images relating tooperating conditions of the processing components. In the exampleembodiment, CPU 26 has CPU operating condition indicators 66 that depictCPU temperature and usage as a percent of capacity. GPU 30 has GPUoperating condition indicators 68 that depict GPU temperature and usageas a percent of capacity. Although the example places each component'soperating conditions over top of the component, alternative embodimentsmay arrange the operating conditions by different priorities, such asplacing components more prominently when close to operating limits.Cooling fan 42 and a cooling fan operating condition indicator 70 thatindicates the cooling fan speed as a percent of maximum. In addition, aspeaker illumination 72 is provided over speaker 32 to provide a visualeffect associated with audio information. A virtual keyboard 74 ispresented to accept typed key inputs detected by a capacitive touchsurface integrated in secondary display 20. In one example embodimenthaving an LCD integrated in the transparent cover, the transparent viewmay be cutoff by blackening the LCD pixels. As is described below,secondary display 20 may also present content in coordination with maindisplay 18, such as to support an application.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a block diagram depicts a system that leveragesaudio processing to supplement visual information presented to an enduser, such as through a secondary display. In the example embodiment,CPU 26 executes a gaming application 86 over an operating system 84 thatmanages interactions between applications and hardware components.Operating system 84 has an audio driver 88 that plays sounds through anaudio chipset at plural speakers. In the example embodiment, the pluralspeakers include a channel 1 speaker 76 for left stereo, a channel 2speaker 78 for right stereo and a woofer speaker 80 that plays bass. Inaddition to coordinating playing of audio, operating system 84 managespresentation of visual images at main display 18 by having display pixelvalues generated by GPU 30 for scanning to main display 18. In addition,GPU 30 may generate pixel values for presentation as secondary display20, such as in support of application 86 or to present operatingconditions monitored by operating system 84. Embedded controller 44 orother similar processors may also manage presentation of visual imagesat secondary display 20, such as by using templates that presentinterfaces for operating conditions managed by embedded controller 44.

In order to enhance end user consumption of audio information, an audiovector engine 90 analyzes audio information played through audio chipset82 and generates associated visual information for presentation at maindisplay 18 or secondary display 20. In the example of a gamingapplication, audio vector engine 90 monitors the audio mix betweenplural audio channels and bass, and estimates an incoming direction anddistance for shots fired in the game. Based upon the estimated origin ofthe shots fired, a visual indication is presented to the end user, suchas by an arrow with a distance or by overlaying the position on a map ofthe game. In the shots fired example, audio vector engine 90 scans audioinformation generated by the application to detect patterns associatedwith a shot fired, such as a defined tone or pattern. For instance, ashot may be identified by a bass sound sent to a bass channel that has arapid rise and fall. As another example, a shot may be identified bycomparing sounds generated in stereo channels that show a definedpattern in different time frames. Once a shot fired sound is identified,comparing the pattern across plural stereo channels indicates adirection from which the sound originated. The specific analysis fordetermining a shot fired direction may vary based upon the number ofaudio channels and the type of stereo sound used. In some instances,such as where a shot fired relates to a slower weapon, like a mortar orbomb, additional calculations may be performed before impact of theweapon to predict the impact location. In both examples, a gamer obtainsan advantage by knowing where shots originated and hence anotherplayer's location, and having warning of an impact to avoid the impactarea of slower weapons. In the example gaming application, this analysisof audio output provides information to the end user that is notavailable directly from the game by extrapolating shots fired vectorinformation from audio output. Similar estimations of sound location maybe performed in alternative applications, such as by showing an estimateof positions from sounds generated by an audiovisual file, such as amovie. In the example embodiment, audio vector determination isperformed as part of an audio driver of the operating system, however,in alternative embodiments, the audio vector determination may beperformed by the audio chipset, the embedded controller, or specializedhardware like a DSP integrated circuit.

Referring now to FIG. 9, an example embodiment depicts audio-generatedvisual cues presented in coordination with application visualinformation. In the example embodiment, secondary display 20 has a darkbackground with a central location 92 that indicates the end user'sposition in the game. On main display 18 the gaming applicationgenerates gaming visual images 98 for presentation to an end user, suchas positional context of the end user in the game. The gamingapplication is coded to track other users relative to the end user,however, the positional information of the other users is generallyhidden from the end user unless certain conditions are met, such as theend user looking in the direction of the other user. When a hiddenplayer takes an action, such as a shot fired, the end user is providedin some cases with audio feedback of the action even though the otherplayer's relative position remains hidden. Audio vector resolution fromdifferent audio channel outputs offers the end user an advantage byresolving the other player's position separate from the gamingapplication. On secondary display 20, a first audio position vector 94depicts an arrow with a direction from which a first shot was fired anda distance estimate to the shot, such as based upon the volume of theaudio. A second audio position vector 96 depicts a smaller arrow with adirection and distance to a second shot fired. The end user can view thesecondary display while playing the game through application visualinformation at the main display in order to interact more effectivelywith the additional positional information that is not available fromthe gaming application itself.

Referring now to FIG. 10, an alternative embodiment depicts audiogenerated visual cues presented on an application map. The end userinteracts with application visual information presented at main display18 while tracking his relative position in the game using a map 100presented on the secondary display. Audio-vector positions 94 and 96 arepresented as before with direction and distance information, however,presenting the positions over the map provides the end user withimproved situational awareness of the estimated player positions withinthe gaming context.

Referring now to FIG. 11, an example of audio vector resolution isdepicted that determines an audio vector based in part on obstructions,occlusions and exclusions in a gaming application. By comparison, FIG.12 depicts an example of an audio vector resolution that determines anaudio vector based in part on volume estimated distances. Implementationof a particular audio vector resolution logic may depend upon the typeof audio information available and the computational resources availableat the system. In a multi-speaker system, such as 4.1 or 5.1, sound isdistributed among speakers located around the end user's head so thatthe end user can distinguish a sound source based upon the speaker thatplays the sound. In an open gaming area as depicted by FIG. 12, panningbetween the plural speakers to compare volumes provides an estimate fromthe end user position 92 to first and second audio position vectors 94and 96 based upon the volume in each speaker for each sound source. Thedegree of precision depends upon the number of sound streams. Forinstance Dolby Digital uses 6 and 8 streams in the 5.1 and 7.1configurations respectively so that vector and distance resolution to asound source has a relatively high accuracy. Other types of audiosystems, such as the Sensaura MultiDrive Creative Multispeaker SurroundSound (CMSS), reproduces sound using Head Related Transfer Functions(HRTF) so that every sound area includes its own crosstalk cancellationalgorithm. Each type of audio generation will provide an end user withan audible indication of sound origination that is essentially reverseengineered from the audio output to determine a visual indication of thesound origin. In some instances, however, sound volume across channelsmay include other gaming factors that should be accounted for. As anexample, FIG. 11 depicts an end user located in a room 102 so that shotsfired or other audio associated with first and second audio positionvectors 94 and 96 may vary based upon how sound passes through the room,such as with a door or window opening. In such situations, soundsreported by the audio system are adjusted to adapt to obstructionscreated in the game to provide a more accurate estimate of the otherplayer's location. For instance, a room wall might decrease sound by 50%so that the source is 50% closer in the estimate. Different sizedadjustments are applied for doors and varied further based upon ananticipated pathway followed by the sound.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a flow diagram depicts a process fordetermining audio vector resolution to provide visual indications ofaudio sources. The process starts at step 104 and continues to step 106to determine if a shot fired event as occurred, such as with a matchingof audio output to a defined profile associated with the event orinterest. In the shot fired example, the defined profile may be a tone,a sound rise and fall, or a pattern across multiple channels thatmatches a shot fired profile. If the defined profile is not identified,the process returns to step 104. Once the defined profile is determined,the process continues to step 108 to analyze the three dimensional audioassociated with the audio event to determine a sound source vector witha direction and distance to the audible source. Once the sound originand vector are determined, the process continues to step 110 todetermine if the shot fired targets the end user by determining if thevector from the origin intersects the end user's game position. In theexample embodiment, if the end user is not targeted, the process returnsto step 104 to continue monitoring for audible events. In alternativeembodiments, visual indications may be provided of non-targeting audibleevents. If at step 110 the shot fired is targeted at the end user, theprocess continues to step 112 to determine or estimate a distance to thesource of the shot fired. The process then completes at step 114 bypresenting a visual indication of the shot fired source on the secondarydisplay.

Referring now to FIGS. 14A, 14B, and 14C, a dynamic on-screen keyboardposition presentation is depicted based upon a physical keyboardlocation during extension and retraction. FIG. 14A depicts informationhandling system 10 having an extendable keyboard in a retracted positionand presenting a virtual keyboard at secondary display 20. An end userhas access to virtual keyboard 74 to type inputs at the presented keysthat are interpreted based upon touch detection of the inputs by acapacitive touch detection surface. FIG. 14B depicts a partial extensionof a physical keyboard 116 from within information handling system 10towards an extended position at which the end user can type inputs.Physical keyboard 116 may extend manually, such as by an end user graspand pull, or through an automated mechanism, such as step motor,magnetic attraction or other forces. Further, physical keyboardextension may provide a separation of the keyboard from the housing foruse as a separate peripheral device, such as through a wirelessinterface. The position of physical keyboard 116 may be sensed by avariety of different sensors, such as the position of a motor used toperform the extension or Hall sensors and magnets disposed opposite eachother between the system housing and keyboard. As physical keyboard 116extends from information handling system 10 virtual keyboard 74 slidesin its presentation at secondary display 20 so that keys not visible onphysical keyboard 116 due to its position within information handlingsystem 10 are visible at virtual keyboard 74. Advantageously, an enduser can interact with either the partially extended physical keyboard116 by pressing exposed keys, or with the partially presented virtualkeyboard, which shows only those keys not available at the physicalkeyboard. FIG. 14C depicts complete extension of physical keyboard 116at which point virtual keyboard 74 is no longer presented. When physicalkeyboard 116 is returned into information handling system 10, virtualkeyboard 74 is again presented so that, as keys of physical keyboard 116are hidden within information handling system 10, those keys arepresented at secondary display 20. The end user is provided with asliding virtual keyboard 74 that tracks the position of physicalkeyboard 116 when hidden within information handling system 10. Thesliding virtual keyboard 74 is generated by an operating system, BIOS orfirmware of an embedded controller.

Referring now to FIG. 15, a flow diagram depicts a process for dynamicon-screen keyboard presentation based upon a physical keyboard location.The process starts in an idle state at step 118 to initiate logic basedupon detection of an end user interaction. At step 120, an end userpress of a keyboard rejection button continues to step 122 to determineif the keyboard is retracted or extended. If the keyboard is extended,the process continues to step 124 to retract the keyboard with thevirtual keyboard presented in a synchronized manner as the keyboard ishidden within the system housing. If at step 122 the keyboard is withinthe system, the process continues to step 126 to initiate ejection ofthe keyboard, such as by activation of a motor, solenoid, electromagnetor other actuator device. The ejection progress is monitored throughcompletion at step 128 and 126 while the process continues at step 130to determine the keyboard position during the extension. The keyboardposition at step 130 is monitored at step 132 through full keyboardejection while the process continues to step 134. At step 134 adetermination is made of the keys of the physical keyboard that areobstructed by the system housing, such as by comparing the keyboardposition within the housing against a map of keyboard positions. At step136, obstructed keys of the physical keyboard are displayed via thevirtual keyboard presented at the secondary display. At step 138, duringthe extension physical key presses detected at the physical keyboard areignored for the keys that are obstructed within the system housing.Similarly, presses at virtual keyboard keys are accepted as systeminputs.

From the idle state at step 118, if a power button press at step 140 isdetected to power up or down the system, the process continues to step142 to perform a default action in response to a power button actuation.For instance, pressing the power button to turn off the system caninitiate retraction of the keyboard while pressing the power button withthe system off can optionally result in a default action, such asextending the keyboard. If from the idle state at step 118 a close lidbutton is detected at step 144 to command closing of the lid housingportion by the motorized hinge, the process continues to step 146 toclose the housing. A command to close the housing may optionally commandretraction of the keyboard. If at the idle state of step 118 and logopress is detected at step 148, a determination is made at step 150whether the housing is closed and, if so, the process continues to step152 to open the housing. In each instance where the housing rotatesbetween open and closed states, an end user may set desired defaultkeyboard retraction and extension parameters and present a coordinatedmovement of the virtual keyboard and the physical keyboard duringretraction and extension.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it shouldbe understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can bemade hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable information handling systemcomprising: a housing; processing components disposed in the housing andoperable to execute instructions that process information; a displaycoupled to the housing and interfaced with the processing components,the display operable to present a virtual keyboard; and a physicalkeyboard coupled to the housing and operable to retract and extend, thevirtual keyboard presentation varying as the physical keyboard retractsand extends.
 2. The portable information handling system of claim 1wherein the virtual keyboard presentation varying includes at leastpresenting at the virtual keyboard only those keys not visible at thephysical keyboard.
 3. The portable information handling system of claim2 wherein the virtual keyboard stops presenting when the physicalkeyboard fully extends to expose all of its keys.
 4. The portableinformation handling system of claim 2 wherein the physical keyboardaccepts key inputs at exposed keys and the virtual keyboard accepts keyinputs at keys presented on the display.
 5. The portable informationhandling system of claim 1 wherein the virtual keyboard slides acrossthe display synchronously with the position of the physical keyboard asthe physical keyboard extends.
 6. The portable information handlingsystem of claim 1 wherein the display has a transparent cover throughwhich processing components disposed in the housing are visible.
 7. Theportable information handling system of claim 6 wherein the displaycomprises a liquid crystal display layer integrated with the transparentcover.
 8. The portable information handling system of claim 6 whereinthe display comprises an organic light emitting diode display integratedwith the transparent cover.
 9. The portable information handling systemof claim 6 further comprising a display presentation of operatingconditions of the processing components presented over the operatingcomponents with the operating components visible through the transparentcover.
 10. A method for presenting a virtual keyboard at a portableinformation handling system display, the method comprising: retracting aphysical keyboard into a housing of the portable information handlingsystem; presenting a virtual keyboard at a display of the portableinformation handling system; extending the physical keyboard out of thehousing; and in response to the extending, varying presentation of thevirtual keyboard based upon the position of the physical keyboard duringthe extending.
 11. The method of claim 10 further comprising: inresponse to the retracting, presenting the virtual keyboard during theretracting as a synchronized sliding presentation of virtual keys at thevirtual keyboard as associated physical keys of the physical keyboardretract into the housing.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the varyingpresentation further comprises presenting at the virtual keyboard onlythose keys not visible at the physical keyboard.
 13. The method of claim12 further comprising ceasing the presenting of the virtual keyboardwhen the physical keyboard fully extends to expose all of its keys. 14.The method of claim 13 further comprising: accepting key inputs from thephysical keyboard at exposed keys of the physical keyboard; disablingkey inputs from the physical keyboard at retracted keys of the physicalkeyboard; and accepting key inputs at the virtual keyboard for thephysical keyboard retracted keys.
 15. The method of claim 10 wherein thepresenting further comprises sliding the virtual keyboard across thedisplay synchronously with a position of the physical keyboard as thephysical keyboard extends.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein thedisplay comprises a transparent cover through which processingcomponents disposed in the housing are visible.
 17. The method of claim16 further comprising presenting an operating condition of one of theprocessing components at the display where that one of the processingcomponents is visible through the transparent cover.
 18. The method ofclaim 17 wherein the display comprises a liquid crystal display layerintegrated with the transparent cover.
 19. A keyboard system comprising:a physical keyboard configured to extend from and retract into ahousing; and a virtual keyboard presented at a display to synchronouslyslide across the display with movement of the physical keyboard.
 20. Thekeyboard of claim 19 wherein the virtual keyboard presents only keyshidden by retraction of the physical keyboard.